In this article, we take a look at the top 20 countries with the lowest crime rates. You can skip our detailed analysis of crime, business, and cybersecurity, and go directly to Top 5 Countries with Lowest Crime Rates.
A country’s crime rates are indicative of the level of its law and order and government effectiveness. Countries with lowest crime rates in the world, therefore, have strong rule of law and safer economic environments which encourage business growth and profitability.
Crime Rates and Business Safety
Six of the countries, with some of the lowest crime rates in the world, are also given the highest ease of doing business scores by the World Bank. This means that business friendliness in these countries, which include New Zealand, Singapore, and Denmark, among others, has a positive correlation with their low crime rates. The robust governmental infrastructure in these countries suppresses crime and supports the business community in establishing and operating their firms. Because of the peace and stability, which prevails as a result of low crime rates, these countries also offer a safe haven to investors from all across the globe.
On the contrary, countries with higher crime rates tend to instill a fear of failure and investment losses among the business community, which drives them to relocate their businesses to more stable countries with lower crime rates. For instance, Venezuela, which has the highest crime rate in the world, saw a decrease of $761 million in foreign direct investments in 2021.
Singapore, which has the lowest crime rates in the world, has attracted investments from more than 4,500 top-ranking US firms, as a direct result of these companies operating in the country. These include Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), among others, bringing the direct US investment in Singapore to$270 billion, as of 2021, Per Asean Briefing.
Cybersecurity
Many countries are implementing major policy initiatives to curb their crime rates, especially those of cybercrime, due to its increasing intensity. Some of the most common crimes which affect businesses and consumers are debit/credit card fraud, forgery of official documents, and insurance frauds.
In 2022, governments and businesses across the world invested a collective amount of $2.1 billion in Financial Crime Tech (FinCrime Tech) companies. These companies develop and offer AI-integrated softwares to businesses and state departments which detect fraud and money-laundering activities. Between 2018 and 2022, Anti-Money Laundering and FinCrime Tech companies grew at a compound rate of 20.2%.
Our Methodology
For our list of the top 20 countries with lowest crime rates, we have used data from two reports – 2021 Global Organized Crime Index and Gallup’s Global Law and Order Report, 2022.
The Global Organized Crime Index evaluates the prevalence of crime in countries across the world, and measures it from 1-10, with the score of 1 indicating virtually no criminality and the score of 10 indicating high criminality. The criminality is calculated by using indicators which include trafficking of humans and arms, resource-related crime, drug trade, and existence of mafia-style groups, among others.
Gallup’s Law and Order Report, on the other hand, gives each country a law-and-order-index score based on incidents of assault and mugging, theft of money and property, overall safety of citizens, and people’s confidence in local police force. Since it is a law-and-order-index score on a scale of 1-100, we have formulated a crime index score by subtracting each country’s value from 100.
In order to compare these values with those of the Global Organized Crime Index, we placed these values on a scale of 1-10. Then we used averaged-out scores from the Organized Crime Index and our newly-formulated Crime Index to rank the top 20 countries with lowest crime rates in descending order of their scores. Countries with the lowest crime score have the lowest crime rates.
Another pertinent index discussed in this article is countries’ resilience against organized crime. The resilience score is measured on a scale of 1-10, with the score of 1 corresponding to highest resilience and a score of 10 corresponding to the lowest. It is based on multiple factors including law enforcement, crime prevention, strength of the judicial system, and government transparency.
Here are the top 20 countries with lowest crime rates:
20. Tajikistan
Crime Index Score: 3.06
Tajikistan’s murder and homicide rate was recorded to be 0.91 in 2020, which is a 44.3% decline from the previous decade. While it is a country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world, the US State Department labels its environment ‘unpredictable’ in terms of safety, especially in the areas bordering Afghanistan. Economically, Tajikistan is a resilient country and the World Bank expects its economy to grow by 4.2% by the end of 2023, which is likely to have an impact on poverty reduction.
19. Uzbekistan
Crime Index Score: 3.04
Uzbekistan is a lower middle income country in Central Asia, which has a resilience score of 3.79 against organized crime. Even though the country faced repercussions of Russia-Ukraine war, its resilience allowed its GDP to grow up to $80.3 billion in 2022. In order to tap the supplier potential of the country, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and provided online trading access to sellers in Uzbekistan.
18. Egypt
Crime Index Score: 2.99
Egypt is often considered safer than the US and the UK. According to a 2018 survey conducted by Gallup Law and Order, Egypt was ranked ahead of both the US and the UK in safety. Because of its large GDP size, low crime rate and high investor confidence, Egypt continues to attract huge investments from businesses all across the world. In the last month of 2022, 29 top-ranking global companies signed agreements with the government, allowing them to establish their headquarters in Egypt. These companies, which include Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), will contribute approximately $1 billion to the country’s revenue.
17. Malta
Crime Index Score: 2.98
Malta earned a score of 0.92 out of 1 on World Justice Project’s Order and Security Scale and ranked 7th out of 140 countries in the world. To encourage the growth of businesses and investments, Maltese government has announced tax exemptions and low costs for business incorporation and maintenance.
16. Japan
Crime Index Score: 2.97
World Justice Project gave Japan a score of 9.2 out of 10 for order and security. Japan has the third-biggest economy in the world and is one of the safest countries in the world to live in. It is also a highly attractive country in terms of investment, despite a slowed-down economy. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has announced its plans to invest $690 million in the country by 2024. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has also invested heavily in Japan, amounting to more than $100 billion as of December 2022.
15. Hungary
Crime Index Score: 2.95
With its low criminality scores and high ranking on the Human Development Index, it is no surprise that Hungary is attracting huge amounts of investment from all over the world. In November 2022, BMW group announced its setting up of a high-voltage battery assembly plant in Hungary, thus making an investment of approximately $2.2 billion. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited, a Chinese battery manufacturing company, also announced an investment of $8 billion in Hungary in August 2022.
14. Netherlands
Crime Index Score: 2.95
Netherlands has a criminality score of 4.69 and ranks 18th out of 193 countries for resilience against crime. Consequently, it ranks 11th on US News list of countries open to business. This ranking is based on its favorable tax environment, simple regulations, absence of corruption, safety and transparent government practices.
13. Jordan
Crime Index Score: 2.91
The occurrence of violent crimes is rare in the urban centers of Jordan. Violent incidents, on rare ocassions, are either a result of inter-clan clashes or a repercussion for terrorism in its neighboring countries, Iraq and Syria. Economically, Jordan is a thriving country with a Gross National Income of $112 billion.
12. Sweden
Crime Index Score: 2.89
Sweden has a high score of 8.6/10 for safety on OECD Better Life Index. While it is a generally peaceful country, incidents of gang crime tend to increase in Sweden ahead of its general elections. It is regarded as one of the most highly developed societies in the world, with strong economic indicators. The current industrialization initiatives taken by the government of Sweden are environment-friendly and make use of fossil-free sources of energy.
11. Austria
Crime Index Score: 2.82
Austria is one of the safest countries in the world in terms of crime. The country has a well-functioning legal system and a strong police force, which contribute to maintaining a low crime rate. It is also experiencing a business boom, especially due to an increase in exports by small and medium-sized enterprises. In 2021, these enterprises earned approximately $550 million in sales revenue with the help of online trading platforms such as Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN).
10. Portugal
Crime Index Score: 2.73
Portugal ranks 6th out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index of 2022,witha score of 1/5 for violent crime and 1.45/5 for homicide. Its quality-of-life score is 53.6, which is calculated using indicators such as public safety, political and economic stability, and a good job market. Portugal’s score for resilience to organized crime is 6.46/10.
9. Slovenia
Crime Index Score: 2.65
Slovenia is a Central European country with a criminality score of 4.29. According to a UNODC report, its homicide rate was 0.5 per 100,000 people in 2020, which is a promising figure in comparison with the world’s average homicide rate of 5.8. Some of the most prevalent organized crimes in Slovenia are vehicle theft, human and drug trafficking, and money laundering.
8. Switzerland
Crime Index Score: 2.57
Switzerland was given a high score of 9.3 out of 10 by OECD Better Life Index for public safety. With a GDP of $813 billion, it also ranks first on the list of countries open for business. In November 2022, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) announced its expansion into Switzerland with the launch of a new infrastructure region called AWS Europe (Zurich).
7. New Zealand
Crime Index Score: 2.53
New Zealand is a high-income country with a GNI per capita of $45,440 in 2021. Because of its high law and order and security ranking, the country provides good opportunities for tourism, business, and investment. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has recently announced its plan to invest $180 million in New Zealand for building a data center.
6. Canada
Crime Index Score: 2.49
Canada is a generally safe and peaceful country. While there has been a decrease in property crime and non-violent crime in recent years, incidents of violent crime were reported to have increased in 2021, with 890 cases reported per 100,000 people. Economically, Canada ranks among the top 10 countries in the world by nominal GDP with an annual growth rate of 4.6%.
Click to continue reading and see the Top 5 Countries with the Lowest Crime Rates.
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Disclosure: none. Top 20 Countries with Lowest Crime Rates is originally published on Insider Monkey.
FAQs
Top 20 Countries with Lowest Crime Rates - InvestingChannel? ›
Qatar. Qatar has a safety index of 85.2, according to NUMBEO. It has the lowest crime rate in the world.
Which country has the lowest crime index in the world? ›Qatar. Qatar has a safety index of 85.2, according to NUMBEO. It has the lowest crime rate in the world.
What are the top 10 safest countries in the world? ›Therefore, we have prepared a list of the safest countries in the world following the latest Global Peace Index 2022. The top 10 safest countries in the world in 2023 include Iceland, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Singapore, and Japan.
Which is the most crime prone country in the world? ›World of Statistics has shared the ranking of the world's "most criminal countries". On the list, Venezuela has been ranked top, followed by Papua New Guinea (2), Afghanistan (3), South Africa (4), Honduras (5), Trinidad (6), Guyana (7), Syria (8), Somalia (9) and Jamaica (10), respectively.
What is the safest state in USA? ›Based on the number of homicides, the ten safest states in America are New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming, Maine, Rhode Island, North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii, Idaho, and Alaska. New Hampshire is the safest state in the US, with just 20 reported homicide incidents.
What countries have little to no crime? ›| # | Country | Global Peace Index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iceland | 1.11 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 1.27 |
| 3 | Ireland | 1.29 |
| 4 | Austria | 1.3 |
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is known for its high crime rates, which make it one of the deadliest cities in America. Out of a population of 632,464, Detroit has 5,389 crimes per 100,000. The crime rate in Detroit is 130% higher than the national average.
Although it's true that the US has a higher crime rate than many other developed countries, its reputation for violence is often exaggerated by the media. As a whole, the country is a safe place to live.
What are the safest countries in the world for American tourists? ›Safest places: medical risks
Its Travel Risk Map 2023 shows that much of North America and Western Europe — as well as places like Turkey, Israel, Japan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates — have “low” medical risks.
Although we were surprised to see a negligible rise in overall concern in 2020, the US rate of high daily concern about safety jumped three points in 2021—from 47% to 50%. Following suit, the percentage of Americans who feel safe in their state fell five points year over year, from 55% in 2020 to 50% in 2021.
What is the #1 most violent city in the US? ›
- Violent crime rate: 1,927 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- Property crime rate: 6,183 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- Notable issue: The city has the highest homicide rate in the country.
Vermont has a crime rate that is typically lower than the rest of the USA, which is a trait of all New England states. Vermont's crime rate is 1.6 crimes per 1000 people – the national crime rate is over 50% higher than this, at 2.4 per 1000 residents.
What is the crime rate in America compared to other countries? ›The U.S. homicide rate was 10.5-7.9 per 100,000 population compared to Europe's less than 2 per 100,000. The U.S. rate for rape was approximately seven times higher than the average for Europe. United States robbery rates were approximately four times higher than those in Europe.
Which city is most safe in USA? ›Frisco, Texas
Frisco, Texas, part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex has been ranked the number 1 safest city to live in the U.S. It boasts the fourth-lowest violent crime rate and the sixth-lowest property crime rate.
– Maine is the most peaceful state in the U.S. for the 11th year in a row, Louisiana is the least peaceful. The Northeast continues to be the most peaceful region with three of the five most peaceful states. The South is once again the least peaceful region in America, with four of the five least peaceful states.
What state drives the safest? ›| Ranking | State | Safest State for Drivers Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | 9.15 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 9.8 |
| 3 | Utah | 12.5 |
| 4 | Alaska | 15.05 |
Least free were Syria (3.79), Venezuela (3.80), and Yemen (4.30). The components on which the index is based can be divided into economic freedoms and other personal freedoms. Highest ranking in economic freedoms were Hong Kong (8.91) and Singapore (8.71).
What are the safest countries in North America? ›When evaluated by 2022 GPI, the top three safest countries in North America are Canada, Costa Rica, and Panama.
What is the safest country in Europe? ›- Iceland (47.4)
- Norway (47.9)
- Denmark (49.4)
| Rank | State | Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 885.0 |
| 2 | New Mexico | 702.5 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 623.3 |
| 4 | Nevada | 606.6 |
What states have the most murders? ›
The states with the highest murder rates in the United States are Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alaska, Maryland, Oklahoma, Mississippi and North Carolina, but it is the District of Columbia that has the highest murder rate in the US, with a rate of 49.2 murder per 100,000 people.
Is the US or Europe safer? ›Whether one measures safety by the annual Global Peace Index, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, or my other metrics such as rates of violent crime, Europe is the safest continent in the world. In fact, 14 of the top 20 safest countries in the world in 2022 were located in Europe.
Is it safe for Americans to live in Mexico? ›Violent crime is prevalent throughout Mexico, though it is typically infighting between Mexicans. The best way to stay safe in the face of violent crime is to research your destination ahead of time. Stick to tourist areas as much as possible. Stay tuned to the local media and avoid any dangerous areas.
What is the nicest and safest country? ›The safest place in the world is Iceland, which ranks number one on the 2022 Global Peace Index. Iceland, with a score of 1.107, has held this position on the GPI for over a decade.
What is the top 3 safest country? ›- Iceland.
- New Zealand.
- Ireland.
- Denmark.
- Austria.
- Portugal.
- Slovenia.
- Czech Republic.
Hawaii's beautiful scenery, favorable weather, and delightful beaches make it a favorite of tourists. Indeed, more than 9 million people visit the islands annually. Hawaii is one of the safest places to travel year-round.
What is the #1 best place to live? ›A new report has named Cambridge, Massachusetts—in the Boston area—the best city to live in America.
Is Canada safer than the United States? ›In 2021, Canada ranked as the 4th safest country in the world by U.S. News. Canada's high position on the index sits alongside Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. Canada's ranking is 14 spots before the United Kingdom, and 34 spots ahead of the United States.
What is the safest city in the US 2023? ›| Rank | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hopkinton | Massachusetts |
| 2 | Ridgefield | Connecticut |
| 3 | Madison | Connecticut |
| 4 | Harrison Town | New York |
Our data placed St. Louis at the top of the list for the highest number of gun-related injuries per 10,000 residents in 2018 (18.6) as well as the highest incidence of gun-related deaths (9.1 per 10,000 people).
What city in California has the highest crime rate? ›
- The most dangerous city in California is Emeryville, with a violent crime rate of 6,284 per 100,000 residents. ...
- Due to Emeryville's small population, each citizen has about a 1 in 15 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.
| City Name | Population (2023) | Overall Crime Rate (Per 1,000 Residents) |
|---|---|---|
| Trophy Club | 14,820 | 3.87 |
| Highland Village | 16,067 | 5.60 |
| Colleyville | 26,707 | 6.26 |
| Friendswood | 42,295 | 6.55 |
(The Center Square) – Chicago recorded 697 total homicides in 2022, far more than any other city in the United States, but New Orleans had the highest murder rate per capita, according to a new report from a nonprofit research group.
What US town has the lowest crime rate? ›In its report, MoneyGeek also ranked the safest large cities in America with populations over 300,000. This year, Honolulu was named the safest large city, with the lowest per-capita crime cost in the country—$528.
What small town in America has the lowest crime rate? ›| City | Crime Cost per Capita | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Yorktown Town, NY | $43 |
| 2. | Mason, OH | $47 |
| 3. | Andover, MA | $51 |
| 4. | Southlake, TX | $64 |
This is a critical part of why identity theft is the fastest is the growing crime in America. It's also easy for identity thieves to steal information from paper records.
Is the crime rate higher in Mexico or USA? ›To be clear, violence in Mexico is no joke. There have been over 47,000 drug-related murders alone in the past five years. Its murder rate - 18 per 100,000 according to this United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime report - is more than three times the US rate of 4.8 per 100,000.
What is the cheapest and safest state to live in? ›- Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. ...
- Kansas. ...
- Alabama. ...
- Oklahoma. ...
- Georgia. ...
- Tennessee. ...
- Missouri. ...
- Iowa.
- Glens Falls, New York. The Glens Falls MSA includes Warren and Washington counties. ...
- Midland, Michigan. ...
- State College, Pennsylvania. ...
- The Villages, Florida. ...
- 5. Logan, Utah. ...
- Wausau, Wisconsin. ...
- Cambridge, Massachusetts. ...
- Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
The HomeSnacks list of Best States to Raise a Family in America for 2022 is topped by Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Nebraska, and Iowa. It was Vermont's health and safety index and Maine's clean air and water, schools, and safety that gained each one its top spot.
What is the most polite US state? ›
The most polite state, based on their Google searches, was Montana. More than 270,000 of their searches per 100,000 residents in the past year included polite terms, especially “please.” Meanwhile, the study reveals California could improve in the way of manners.
What is the kindest state in the USA? ›- Friendliest State: Nevada.
- Friendliest State: New Hampshire. ...
- Friendliest State: Washington. ...
- Friendliest State: New Jersey. ...
- Friendliest State: Massachusetts. ...
- Friendliest State: Delaware. ...
- Friendliest State: Arkansas. ...
- Friendliest State: New York. ...
Massachusetts and Minnesota were the two states with the highest living standards in the U.S., according to the study.
What U.S. state has the most aggressive drivers? ›That's almost 70% higher than the national average. Virginia has the highest number of aggressive drivers overall, with seven cities appearing on our top 20 list.
What state is the strictest for cars? ›...
Strictest driving laws and car accidents by state.
| State | Alaska |
|---|---|
| Accident rate per 100K drivers | 22.4 |
| Maximum speed limit | 65 |
| Speeding penalties | $300 |
Hawaii ranks at No. 1 for the worst state to drive in. Washington follows at No. 2 and Delaware at No.
Why does Iceland have the lowest crime rate? ›This big country, with a small population of roughly 325 thousand people has no army, a murder rate of 0-1,5 per year, virtually no violent crimes, very small amount of petty crimes, police officers don't carry guns and probably most importantly, people are very equal, no matter what their sex, sexual orientation or ...
Why is the crime rate in Japan so low? ›Other factors come into play, as well. Compared to the rest of the world, Japan has extremely low rates of poverty, unemployment and drug use. All of these societal factors combine to make Japan one of the safest countries in the world.
Does Iceland have a hood? ›If you have been wondering whether an old school ghetto can be found in Reykjavík, the answer is 'sort of. ' What Icelanders refer to as their 'ghetto' is more commonly referred to as Breiðholt, a neighbourhood in the east part of the city.
Are guns illegal in Iceland? ›Buying a gun is not an easy process either, as Icelandic law places strict limits on gun ownership. To obtain a licence for a firearm, applicants must be at least 20 years old, pass a medical assessment to ensure they are mentally and physically fit to handle a gun and have a clean criminal record.
How much is rent in Iceland? ›
Renting In Iceland
The average rent for a one-bedroom flat in Reykjavik is equivalent to 1,700 dollars a month. (But it'll cost more in the city center). So that's a pretty similar rate for most European capital cities, such as London or Paris.
...
Crime Comparison Between Japan and United Arab Emirates.
| Index | Japan | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Crime Index: | 22.90 | 14.80 |
| Safety Scale: | 77.10 | 85.20 |
Other than the police and the military, no one in Japan may purchase a handgun or a rifle. Hunters and target shooters may possess shotguns and airguns under strictly circumscribed conditions. The police check gun licensees' ammunition inventory to make sure there are no shells or pellets unaccounted for.
Is Japan safe for American tourists? ›Japan has earned a reputation as having some of the lowest crime rates in the world, both theft and violent crimes. While the Yakuza, Japan's organized crime syndicate, often plays a role in movies, they are not likely to target tourists. While in Japan, simply exercise common sense and don't make yourself a target.